Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Hemsted Manor was a medieval moated manor house that became an elaborate Tudor Mansion. In 1798 it was reported by Hasted that the house 'had been lately altered and modernized and the moat filled up.' At this time the wings and moat were removed and the house was converted into a Georgian-styled residence. It was demolished in c.1860 when the present house was erected and landscaped Gardens were created. The remains of the house have been identified beneath the lawns outside Benenden School through a combination of probing and a resistivity survey. Part of the masonry wall and a Tudor chimney have been exposed in a large shrubbery bed. A water cistern was also found as well as fine china, coarsewares and glass dating to the 19th century.

Monument Types

• MANOR HOUSE (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1500 AD? to 1860 AD)
• MOAT (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1500 AD? to 1860 AD)

Full description

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Hemsted, a 16th c. moated manor house which Hasted (1798) says 'had been lately altered and modernized and the moat filled up.' Finally demolished when the present house was erected c. 1862. (1) House and large near-rectangular moat shown at TQ 80123374. (2) No trace of house on moat survives: the site is covered by the gardens of Benenden School. (3) TQ 801338 Hempsted, Benenden, is listed in the county checklist of moated sites in Kent - December 1979. (4) Water cistern - dated early C19th discovered artefacts taken from moat bottom (outside cistern) included fine china, coarsewares and glass. (5) The foundations of Hemsted have been located beneath the lawns outside Benenden School Hall. The original manor house, greatly enlarged and surrounded by a moat became an elaborate Tudor mansion. In the eighteenth century, its wings and moat were removed and the main block was converted into a Georgian-styled residence with a back court for domestic offices and a separate yard at the side for stabling and a full complement of farm buildings. Almost the entire complex was demolished in 1860 when the site was landscaped to create a garden. The use of a resistivity meter and probing have shown that a network of foundations remain buried below the turf, most of it not available for excavation. In a large shrubbery bed, part of the house wall, in brick masonry 1.30m thick has been exposed together with the base of a Tudor chimney projecting on the outside of the wall and incorporating a remaining fireplace. (6)

<1> Parish of Benenden 1889 193-7 (Haslewood) (OS Card Reference). SKE48492.

<2> Surv of Benenden dated 1777 by Joshua Hodskinson. In possession of Parish Clerk (OS Card Reference). SKE49757.

<3> F1 AC 29.04.63 (OS Card Reference). SKE41846.

<4> Moated Sites Res Gp Rep 6 1979 46 (OS Card Reference). SKE47266.

<5> Arch Cant 91 1975 204-5 (M C Lebon) (OS Card Reference). SKE36049.

<6> Field report for monument TQ 83 SW 4 - April, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4337.

<7> Arch Cant 95 1979 303-4 (M B Lebon) (OS Card Reference). SKE36227.

Sources and further reading